The holding of the 4th Latin American Special Olympics Games was highlighted by Special Olympics Global and the delegations present, and deemed a success as Paraguay plans to host more large sporting events in the future.
The general manager of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP), Larissa Schaerer, said that the experience of organising the Odesur Games in 2022 “marked a before and after for Paraguayan sport and allowed it to continue moving forward.” The focus now turns to the Junior Pan American Games in 2025.
In addition to the advances in infrastructure since Asunción hosted ASU2022, organisers said that the feedback of “allowing fans to experience the warmth and support of the public at the competitions” was experienced again at ASU2024. “More than 20,000 people were in the stadium for the inauguration and the most exciting moment was when the Paraguayan delegation came out,” Schaerer said in an interview with La Mañana Nacional.
The Special Olympics Games were considered a “test event” for the Paraguayan organisation, according to Special Olympics Global, to test the organisation’s capacity to host large sporting events. “Thanks to that we are seeing some changes because the Junior Pan American Games have many more athletes. We are already focused on 2025” she said.
These games will bring together athletes aged 12 to 22 from all over the American continent. The next major international event will be held from 9 to 23 August.
Coordinated work across different departments
The organisation of the Special Olympics Games also left a coordinated management between government institutions and Special Olympics Paraguay (OEP), through an agreement with the Ministry of Sports.
Coordination was also carried out with the governorships through the first ladies of each governorship, plus the constant support of the presidential first lady, Leticia Ocampos, Schaerer said.
Other important support came from binational companies, such as Itaipu, which implemented the “Fans in the Stands” program that allowed 3,000 children to attend the COP and the SND for sports competitions, a program that will be run again next year.
Five days after the Junior Pan American Games, the first round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) will take place in Paraguay, and the country also hopes to host the Youth Olympic Games in 2030. All of us in Asunción look forward to the city hosting more large sporting events in future!
